Increasing HDL-cholesterol levels with phenylethylamine derivatives

Abstract

High density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in serum cholesterol are increased by orally administering phenylethylamine derivatives having the structural formula ##STR1## wherein R 1 is a member selected from the group consisting of --CH(CH 3 ) 2 , --C(CH 3 ) 3 and ##STR2## R 2 is a member selected from the group consisting of --OH and --CH 2 OH; and R 3 and R 4 , respectively, are members selected from the group consisting of --H and --OH.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels, which method comprises administering to a human host an amount of terbutaline sufficient to increase the HDL concentration to the desired level above that host's base HDL level. 
     
     
       2. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels according to claim 1 wherein the terbutaline is administered orally and the daily dosage given is sufficient to obtain the desired HDL level. 
     
     
       3. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels according to claim 2 wherein the daily dosage is between 5 to 15 mgs. 
     
     
       4. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels according to claim 2 wherein the daily dosage is from 0.05 to 0.3 mg. per kg. of body weight. 
     
     
       5. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels according to claim 1 wherein the terbutaline is administered as terbutaline sulfate. 
     
     
       6. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels according to claim 5 wherein the terbutaline is administered as a 2.5 mg. terbutaline sulfate tablet containing 2.05 mg. free base. 
     
     
       7. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels according to claim 6 wherein such a terbutaline sulfate tablet is administered four times a day. 
     
     
       8. The method of increasing the high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentration in human serum in a host having a relatively high risk of coronary-artery disease without significantly changing the total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol levels according to claim 1 wherein the terbutaline is administered parenterally in daily dosages of from about 0.01 mg. to about 0.05 mg. per kg. body weight.